Propeller.



No. 808,034. PATBNTED DBO. 19, 1905.

J. 0. FRANKLIN.

PROPBLLER.

APPLICATION PILED'SEPT. 20.1904.

l Q O I 'ummm u llllllff t-/ u n @noem/toa @a www UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 19, 1905.

Application led September 20, 1904. Serial No. 225,259.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. FRANKLIN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing atGrallatin, in the county of Sumner and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Propellers, of whichthe following is aspeciiication.

This invention relates to propellers, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which in practice will enter and leave the water freely and without striking. or lifting the water and one whereby a greater driving force will be obtained than in similar devices heretofore employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple driving mechanism whereby the motion of the paddle-wheel may be readily reversed in propelling or backing.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a portion of the vessel, which is conventionally shown herein and may be of any appropriate construction, there being attached to and eX- tended rearward from the vessel a pair of spaced arms or brackets 2, affording bearing for the propeller-shaft 3, having adjacent to its longitudinal center a bevel-gear 4, there being fixed upon the shaft 3 for driving the same and respectively on opposite sides of the gear4 a pair of propeller-wheels 5. The wheels 5 are identical in construction and operation, and I will therefore describe but one in detail, in which 6 6 indicates a pair of spiders suitably spaced apart, as shown, and each having a series of arms or webs 7 extending radially from the spider and shaft 3, attention being directed to the fact that the arms or webs 7 of one of the spiders are in direct alinement with those of -the other. Attached to the outer ends of and sustained by the webs 7 is a series of segmental wings or blades 8, which extend diagonally between the spaced spiders 6, and each has one of its ends attached to an arm of one of the spiders and its other end attached to the neXt successive arm of the other spider, thereby imparting to the blades a diagonal position across the Wheel, as heretofore stated. It is to be observed that owing to the blades being of segmental form and having an angular position across the wheel they will enter gradually and with a screw-like action into the water and leave the water in like manner, thus obviating violent contact with the surface of the water upon entrance there-to and lifting of the waterupon egress therefrom. Further, it is apparent that owing to this peculiar construction unusually powerful propelling force will be obtained` while the wheel will present a true circular form in elevation.

Attached to the vessel 1 to project therefrom centrally between the brackets 2 is a bearing-bracket 9, which conjointly with a bearing 10 sustains a rotary shaft 11, having at its outer end a bevel-pinion12 in mesh with the gear 4 and at its inner end a conical friction -head 13, arranged between a pair of bevel friction disks or pulleys 14, each carried by a sleeve 15, movable longitudinally of but fixed for rotation with the drive-shaft 16, journaled in bearings 17 and driven from any suitable source of power, there being iixedly carried at one end of the sleeve 15 a grooved head 18, engaged by a shifting -lever 19, whereby the sleeve may be moved back and forth along the shaft for bringing either of the disks 14 into contact with the bevelhead 13.

Arranged loosely on and adjacent the outer end of the shaft 11 is an antifriction bearing member or roller 20, which contacts with and travels on the inner face of a fixed bearing plate or disk 21, carried by the shaft 3 and appropriately spaced from the gear 4 to receive the pinion 12 between them, the purpose of the bearing members 20 21 being to maintain the pinion in mesh at all times with the gear and prevent disengagement of the parts under abnormal strains.

In practice when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 the propeller-wheels will be driven in the proper direction for propelling the vessel; but should the lever 19 be actuated for shifting the other disk 14 into contact with the head 13 the direction of rotation of the paddle-wheels will be reversed, thereby backing the vessel.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a comparatively simple device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in View, it being understood that minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

IOO

IIO

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new isl. In adevice of the class described, a propeller-shaft provided With blades, a gear carried by the shaft, a drive-shaft having a pinion in mesh with said gear, and cooperating bearing members fixed respectively on said shafts and acting to maintain the gear positively in mesh with pinion.

2. In a device of the class described, a propeller-shaft provided With blades, a gear carried by the shaft, a drive-shaft having a pinion in mesh With said gear, a bearing-disk xed upon the propeller-shaft, and a bearing-head on the drive-shaft designed to cooperate with said disk for maintaining the pinion positively in mesh With the gear.

3. In a device of the class described, a driven shaft provided with a gear, a drive-shaft having a pinion in mesh with said gear, and c0- operating bearing members disposed respectively on said shafts and acting to maintain the pinion positively in mesh With the gear.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN C. FRANKLIN.

Vitnesses :y

J.v F. LAFFERTY, L. M. SANFORD. 

